1971 Ford Maverick

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rk1407

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I have a friend who owns the Ford Maverick and the front suspension is very squeaky when you push down on the shocks with your hands. It almost sounds like a old squeaky mattress spring! Any thoughts on what is making this noise? He also hears it whenever he hits a bump while driving. Shocks, springs, ball joints? All of the above? I think its all original.
 
It's likely the upper control arm bushings, common problem on the '60s/70s Ford compacts/intermediates... They don't have fittings but there is a plug that can be removed... It's a bioch to access and impossible to install a std fitting, most wound up having the spring/shock tower cut for access...
 
Usually, the upper shock bushings get squeaky. Couldn't hurt to grease the control arm bushings either. '71 should still have grease fittings on them.
 
Originally Posted By: SS1970chrysler
Usually, the upper shock bushings get squeaky. Couldn't hurt to grease the control arm bushings either. '71 should still have grease fittings on them.
Nope never seen one from the factory that had fittings installed and as I said there isn't enough space to install a std fitting... I've owned two Mavericks and probably a dozen '67-'71 Falcons, Fairlanes & Torinos none had factory fittings... At one time there was a special "skinny" fitting that would slip into the opening but I haven't seen those in years... Most just had the spring/shock tower cut or torched for access...
 
If the original rubber CA bushings were ever replaced with polyurethane bushings they <span style="text-decoration: underline">will</span> squeak.
 
As i remember, there were a lot of grease fittings on those front suspensions. Do that first. If it persists, spray WD40 or silicone on various bushings to see which one is the culprit.
 
A 1971 Ford Maverick.. I'm surprised that's the only thing squeaking! The last one we had in the family was a 1974 (I believe?) with a 3 on the tree, ultra wandery front suspension, baby poop brown exterior and plaid cloth/vinyl interior that emanated that awesome BO smell. Joel
 
My dad bought at a 71 Maverick with the 302 and pulled a 24 ft travel trailer with that thing. Talk about power and speed...that car would fly! What engine is in this one?
 
My mom bought a 1971 Maverick Grabber w/inline 6 new back in 1971 for $2200 and when she traded it in in Dec. 1983 for a new 1984 Mustang they gave her $2500 for it. I was born in 1979 so I only had a few years in it but that little car went everywhere, we never got stuck in snow. She still has the 1971 Maverick brochure.
 
Her taste really picked up in the 90's when I started driving. She drove 5.0 Trans Am's and 5.0 Mustangs.
Originally Posted By: Jarlaxle
Jason, your mother's taste in cars is pretty good!
 
Originally Posted By: TFB1
Originally Posted By: SS1970chrysler
Usually, the upper shock bushings get squeaky. Couldn't hurt to grease the control arm bushings either. '71 should still have grease fittings on them.
Nope never seen one from the factory that had fittings installed and as I said there isn't enough space to install a std fitting... I've owned two Mavericks and probably a dozen '67-'71 Falcons, Fairlanes & Torinos none had factory fittings... At one time there was a special "skinny" fitting that would slip into the opening but I haven't seen those in years... Most just had the spring/shock tower cut or torched for access...
Yup,I remember many '60s Ford Mustangs had this problem. I believe the Maverick had the same suspension. As I remember, the upper control arm pivoted on a shaft. There were two pivots, one towards the front and one towards the rear, tucked up in the spring/shock tower. There were usually grease fitting plugs on each end of the shaft (one facing forward, one facing back). It was a tight fit to the spring/shock tower sheetmetal. I remember seeing a lot of rudely torched holes in the spring/shock tower to gain access to the grease fitting plugs. The hole would typically be a little over an inch in diameter. The plugs would then be replaced with grease fittings to allow lubrication of the control arm pivots and stop the squeaking (at least temporarily, they had to be greased regularly). Come to think of it, I remember a special tool that could be used to grease the control arms. But you had to remove the plug, install the tool, grease the pivot, remove the tool and reinstall the plug. It was a bit of PIA to use. Maybe that was the special "skinny" fitting you mention.
 
Originally Posted By: Rick in PA
Originally Posted By: TFB1
Originally Posted By: SS1970chrysler
Usually, the upper shock bushings get squeaky. Couldn't hurt to grease the control arm bushings either. '71 should still have grease fittings on them.
Nope never seen one from the factory that had fittings installed and as I said there isn't enough space to install a std fitting... I've owned two Mavericks and probably a dozen '67-'71 Falcons, Fairlanes & Torinos none had factory fittings... At one time there was a special "skinny" fitting that would slip into the opening but I haven't seen those in years... Most just had the spring/shock tower cut or torched for access...
Yup,I remember many '60s Ford Mustangs had this problem. I believe the Maverick had the same suspension. As I remember, the upper control arm pivoted on a shaft. There were two pivots, one towards the front and one towards the rear, tucked up in the spring/shock tower. There were usually grease fitting plugs on each end of the shaft (one facing forward, one facing back). It was a tight fit to the spring/shock tower sheetmetal. I remember seeing a lot of rudely torched holes in the spring/shock tower to gain access to the grease fitting plugs. The hole would typically be a little over an inch in diameter. The plugs would then be replaced with grease fittings to allow lubrication of the control arm pivots and stop the squeaking (at least temporarily, they had to be greased regularly). Come to think of it, I remember a special tool that could be used to grease the control arms. But you had to remove the plug, install the tool, grease the pivot, remove the tool and reinstall the plug. It was a bit of PIA to use. Maybe that was the special "skinny" fitting you mention.
I had a 70 Maverick, and did the torch job on the sheet metal to get fittings in the upper control arm bushings. The squeaking noise it made going over bumps was enough drive me crazy.
 
Originally Posted By: TFB1
It's likely the upper control arm bushings, common problem on the '60s/70s Ford compacts/intermediates... They don't have fittings but there is a plug that can be removed... It's a bioch to access and impossible to install a std fitting, most wound up having the spring/shock tower cut for access...
Yes, very common. My Dad had a service kit for these bushings. The kit had a flat plastic disk with the correct sized hex in it to remove the bushing plugs. It had some "special" grease fittings that also had a special wrench to install them into the now unplugged bushings. Grease 'em up, remove the fittings and re-install the plugs. What a PITA. Here's the modern version that appears to be a more permanent install. http://macsautoparts.com/fairlane-torino...S0R3CHL1095235/
 
popcorn2 I have nothing to add to the conversation except I think it's awesome BITOG has so many experts on a 40 year old compact-to-midsize everyman's car. "Yeah we had to torch some holes to make up for a design defect. Whatever." LOL People whined less about cars back then?
 
Originally Posted By: eljefino
popcorn2 People whined less about cars back then?
A. No Internet B. The cars were only going to last a little while anyway..... By the way, I also knew people who torched holes in this type car to get to the spark plugs.
 
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